By Alexandra Casalaspro
As March is women’s history month we take this month to commemorate and honor women who have impacted the world. Therefore in honor of Women's history month this article is written about scientist, chemist and physicist Marie Curie. Marie Curie is a woman who was a pioneer of science and is often referred to as “The Mother of Modern Physics.” Marie Curie was born Maria Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland on November 7th, 1867. Curie gained a well-versed education in school and learned the sciences from her father. At the age of 24 Curie left Poland for Paris, where she studied at Sorbonne and earned licenciateships (a license to practice a profession) in both Mathematical Sciences and Physics. In 1894 at the age of 27 Marie met Pierre Curie, a professor of physics who she married a year later. Marie and Pierre had two daughters, Ève and Irène. Curie earned her Doctorate of science degree in 1903 and in 1906 after the untimely death of her husband she took his place as Professor of General Physics at Sorbonne. Curie also became the Director of the Curie Laboratory in the University of Paris beginning in 1914. Curie’s early research began in 1896, and she was accompanied by her husband Pierre throughout it. Henri Becquerel’s discovery of radioactivity inspired the Curies to begin their work studying uranium. In 1898 the Curies discovered polonium,which Marie named after Poland, and radium. In 1903 the Curies were recognized for their groundbreaking discovery and they earned a Nobel prize (which they shared with Becquerel) for their astonishing work on radioactivity. For this amazing feat Curie became the first woman to earn a nobel prize, and 8 years later in 1911 she became the first person to earn two Nobel prizes. This second revolutionary Nobel prize was for her isolation of radium. Throughout World War 1 Curie was able to utilize her amazing discoveries by setting up various “Petites Curies” which were mobile X-ray stations that helped treat and diagnose soldiers' injuries. Curie’s constant exposure to radiation eventually grew to impact her. In 1934, at the age of 67 Marie Curie died from leukemia due to radiation. Overall, Marie Curie was an amazing pioneer of the sciences, chemistry and physics and her groundbreaking discoveries greatly impact the world today. This is why this month and forever we continue to honor and commemorate Marie Curie and other women for everything they do in the field of science and every field.
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